User talk:BrandonYusufToropov

Your story

I read your story linked from Ibrahim's page. I wouldn't accuse you of being BhaiSaab. I do have a question for you. You disillusionment with Christianity is understandable. You might not be aware that the fact that the book of John is not a literal account was well known to early theologians of the church. I also believe Christianity to be bogus, not because of any of the arguments you raised, but because of the Old Testament. The consensus is developing now that the Israelites were originally Semitic polytheists like their neighbors, and they had their favorite god, the storm god Yahweh. Then at some point some of their leadership decided that in fact Yahweh was the only god. There is lots of evidence for this in the Old Testament, and you probably know where to read about it.

I also understand the pull of Islam. There are many compelling things about it. But as someone raised in a non-Muslim country, weren't you repulsed by the second-class status the Qur'an dictates for non-Muslims, and the injunction that apostates be put to death? In addition, you paid very close attention to the Gospel narratives and rightfully pointed out inconsistencies. Did you search for them in the Quran as well (they are there), before you embraced Islam? Arrow740 19:04, 7 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Arrow, thanks for the nice note. Those who broadcast their discontent with Islamic punishments concerning apostasy have, I think, a flawed understanding of the history of the Islamic community in Medina, and, perhaps, a willful ignorance of the survival requirements of any nation-state, particularly an emerging one. Treason is treason, and that it is punishable by death is not, I think, a fact to be sugarcoated. We do not have an Islamic state today, however, so the question is moot.
I was not in the least, and am not today, "repulsed" by the protection afforded to People of the Book under Islamic law, and I note with interest the thriving Christian and Jewish communities that persisted under various Islamic civil authorities down the centuries. There is apparently a group that followed John the Baptist (!) still functioning in Iraq -- assuming they haven't been blown up or anything in the late unpleasantness, of course. If you're truly interested in the plight of persecuted social minorities, you may well find them in Palestine and Abu Ghraib and various secret facilities in Europe.
Finally, I have indeed searched diligently for inconsistencies in the Qur'an, and came away convinced, not of your position, but of the truth the message of Muhammad (pbuh). If you honestly believe you have found such problems (presumably in an English translation, for which we Muslims assume no responsibility), I can see how you might conclude that your best course would be not to become a Muslim. Personally, I have an aversion to the fire whose fuel is men and stones, and I urge you to study classical Arabic a little more carefully and see what your take on the issue is and avoid criticizing the traffic regulations until you have at least attained a driver's license for the locality in question.
Ma-salaam, BYT 19:22, 7 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Mash'Allah. BhaiSaab ^talk 19:29, 7 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]